The beauty of the spoken word…

Academy Disqualifies Nigeria’s Oscar Entry ‘Lionheart’

Something about this doesn’t seem fair. The film was disqualified because it’s mostly in English. Meanwhile, the official language of Nigeria is….English.

Wild gorillas compose happy songs that they hum during meals

Gorillas sing and hum when eating, a discovery that could help shed light on how language evolved in early humans.

Singing seems to be a way for gorillas to express contentment with their meal, as well as for the head of the family to communicate to others that it is dinner time.

CANADA: Sound of native languages in Parliament marks win for Indigenous People

INTRO:

When the Canadian MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette stood in the House of Commons in June 2017 to deliver a speech on the country’s epidemic of violence against indigenous women, few of his colleagues could understand him.

Ouellette spoke in the Cree indigenous language, and – despite a request for English or French interpreters – no simultaneous translation was provided. His speech was only the second time an indigenous language had been officially spoken in the 151-year history of the house.

What’s your name?

The etymology and history of first names.